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Wausau Daily Herald | ||
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| Saturday, May
5, 2001 |
A GANNETT NEWSPAPER
SERVING NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN www.wausaudailyherald.com |
50¢ |
| Volunteers Rescue Unwanted Dogs | |||
| By Amber Paluch Wausau Daily Herald apaluch@wdhprint.com SCHOFIELD - After Annette Thomson's dog, Buddy, died of leukemia last year, she wasn't ready to fall in love with another Shih Tzu - until she and her husband went online. "We saw all these beautiful little faces that needed homes," she said. The Thomsons of New Berlin had found the Web site of a Shih Tzu rescue group in Schofield - one of many dog-rescue organizations throughout the country. For each breed, vol- unteers foster dogs and try to find them families. National Pet Week and Be Kind to Animals Week are celebrated May 6-12, but the rescue groups make it a year long holiday. "We have saved thousands of dogs," said Lois Kolpacki, who began a Shih Tzu rescue out of her Schofield home two years ago. "It's really a wonderful thing." Kolpacki is aided by volunteers throughout the country in
looking out for Shih Tzus. They also stay in touch with other
rescue groups to find homes for any breed that crosses their path. People need to give up their pets for any reasons, Kolpacki said. Whether people are moving into nursing homes, |
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follow up
by staying in contact with the family. "Once a dog is adopted from us,
they cannot be sold or given away or taken to a shelter,"
Kolpacki said. "If things don't work out, they have to bring it to a
Shih Tzu rescue." The Thomsons drove from their home to Kolpacki's to get Jake in September 2000 and in March decided he needed a "brother." "There are advantages to adopting dogs that are in rescue or a little bit older because you don't have that puppy stage to go through - they're some what trained," Thomson said. "I would never buy a puppy again. There are so many dogs that need homes." The Thomsons and other owners stay in touch with Kolpacki, going to her for questions and advice on caring for their pets. That also gives Kolpacki a chance to stay close to the animals she's cared for. "She had tears in her eyes when Jake went," Thomson
said. Kolpacki has placed almost 100 dogs in Wisconsin, Minnesota
and Illinois in the past two years, fostering at least 20 herself. She'll spend National Pet Week caring for her own two Shih Tzus and waiting for the next dog she can help. "I always have a tear in my |
eye when they leave, but I know
they're going to good homes," she said.
To find a rescue group Those with access to the Internet can search for a rescue
group through
the breed name. Lois Kolpacki can be contacted at: lakwau@aol.com or by ca- lling 359-0872.
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